Wireless electronic prescription scanning and management system

• US 7,630,908 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2000
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Amrien, Martin Smith, Paul Amrien, Pine Blossom Harvey
• Original Assignee: John Amrien, Martin Smith, Paul Amrien, Pine Blossom Harvey
• Inventors: Smith, Martin, Amrien, John, Amrien, Paul, Harvey, Pine Blossom
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan; C. Luke
• Assistant Examiner(s): Porter; Rachel L
• Application Number:
  US09/562,386
• Time in Patent Office: 3,508 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and systems for rapidly and conveniently creating prescriptions through the use of portable digital assistants (PDAs) and bar code scanning technology are provided. Prescriptions are created using a form-based approach in which prescribing options are presented to the prescriber for selection. The system allows entry of medication and patient ID by scanning bar codes. A bar code is generated for each prescription and is used to access the prescription information in a database. The bar code and prescription information can be printed on a ticket, which can be presented at a pharmacy when the prescription is picked up. The use of bar codes allows several levels of checking to ensure that the correct medication is dispensed and that the prescription is valid. Prescription information is transmitted between prescribers and pharmacies via a central site at which prescription information is stored. In a preferred embodiment of the invention communication occurs over the Internet, and the creation and transmission of prescriptions are coordinated by a World Wide Web service which sends Web pages to PDAs to present and gather prescription information. The Web pages can provide links to patient and medication information, and the system can advise the prescriber if there is a contraindication to the medication about to be prescribed. The Web service transmits prescription information to pharmacies, receives notification when prescriptions are fulfilled, and can perform other functions such as notifying patients or physicians when prescriptions are close to running out. The Web service can further be used to keep track of medication sample package inventories at prescribing locations such as physician offices. Prescription data can be used to perform market research in a timely fashion.

Claims

1. A server system for interactively creating and managing prescriptions comprising:

a data storage medium configured to store information for a plurality of prescribers and medications;

a prescription creation component embodied on computer-readable medium configured to receive prescription information that is contained in a bar code scanned by a prescriber from one of a plurality of bar code sources, which prescription information includes medication identification information comprising at least one of;

a medication name, a medication identification number, and a bar code assigned to the medication;

a prescription form component embodied on a computer-readable medium configured to;

i) retrieve information from the data storage medium based on the scanned bar code;

ii) present to the prescriber a plurality of options for at least one element of prescription information;

iii) receive from the prescriber selection input selecting among the presented plurality of options for at least one element of prescription information; and

iv) generate or selects a prescription form responsive to the medication identification information and the selection input;

a prescription database record generated responsive to the received selection input and the medication identification information; and

a prescription management interface configured to;

receive from a first nonprescriber user, via a prescription fulfillment system a) an identification of a generated prescription; and

b) a request for modification of the prescription database record;

receive a) authorization information, and b) a request for a modification of the prescription database record from a second nonprescriber user in at least one of a plurality of categories of nonprescriber users, the plurality of categories of nonprescriber users including at least one of;

pharmacy employees, sales representatives, pharmaceutical company employees, patients, and market researchers; and

transmit to a server engine requests for modification received from one or more nonprescriber users; and

the server engine configured to modify the prescription database record responsive to the requests for modification received from the prescription management interface.

2. The server system of claim 1, wherein the information for each of a plurality of medications includes a bar code, bar code reference number, or bar code character string.

3. The server system of claim 1, wherein the prescription form comprises at least one Web page.

4. The server system of claim 1, wherein the data storage medium further stores information for a plurality of patients.

5. The server system of claim 4, wherein the information for each of a plurality of patients includes a bar code, bar code reference number, or bar code character string.

6. The server system of claim 1, wherein the data storage medium further stores information for a plurality of pharmacies.

7. The server system of claim 1, wherein the data storage medium further stores information for a plurality of created prescriptions.

8. The server system of claim 1, further comprising a bar code generating component.

9. The server system of claim 1, further comprising a prescription creation component that processes data received from prescribers and stores prescription information for a plurality of prescriptions in the data storage medium.

10. The server system of claim 7 or claim 9, wherein the information for each of a plurality of created prescriptions includes a bar code or bar code reference number or bar code character string.

11. The server system of claim 1, further comprising a prescription maintenance component that updates prescription information and prescription status data in response to information received from a client system.

12. The server system of claim 1, further comprising an access control component that receives identification information from a plurality of users and uses the information to allow or prevent users from viewing or changing data stored in the data storage medium.

13. The server system of claim 1, wherein the prescription management interface further comprises an interface for receiving, from a patient, a request for a modification of an identification of a preferred prescription fulfillment system.

14. The server system of claim 1, wherein the prescription management interface further comprises an interface for receiving, from a market researcher, a request for access to prescription fulfillment data associated with the prescription database record.

15. The server system of claim 1, wherein the prescription management interface further comprises an interface for receiving, from a sales representative, a request for access to prescription fulfillment data associated with the prescription database record.

16. The server system of claim 1, wherein the prescription management interface further comprises an interface for receiving, from an employee of a pharmaceutical company, a request for access to prescription fulfillment data associated with the prescription database record and associated with a prescription drug distributed by the pharmaceutical company.